Under scattered broken stones 
engraved with Amen, Shma and Hosana,
smeared with tar swastika
squads of red and black ants     
parachute from weeping willows
onto crooked tombstones of Reb Shlomo
son of Manya and Eli. Ants claw fiercely  into the cracks
to sting clinging ghosts
under piles of rioters smashed tombstones.
Broken stones lean on each other
hold their breath,
hide in eachother’s shadow from vengeful ants.
Red ants intent to choke the ghosts of Reb Yankel
Son of Elihu and Sarah Gitl and their niece Mindl.
Armies of  black striped red ants on a mission
to uproot the souls of the Mohel and Schohet and the Rabbi Goel
lest they continue to contaminate Europe’s soaked earth.
Obeying  coded commands
they are on the scent of soul fugitives,
escapees of camps, woods and swamps.
They join forces with maggots, green eyed roaches.
Determined to crush the ghosts holding on to roots,
hiding in the bark of weeping willows,
red ants rage to vanquish
nightmares crowded with Jews,
swarming with prayer shawls,
millions of skullcaps underneath.